Nagoya Army Arsenal Type 14 Nambu Semi Automatic Pistol

Fitted with a manual safety and a magazine safety, the Type 14
pistol was adopted in 1925. SN 8475

The Nambu family of firearms owe their existence to Kijiro
Nambu, a Japanese artillery officer who developed these arms while
assigned to duty at the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal in 1897. At that
time, the Type 26 top-break revolver was in use as the standard
sidearm by Japanese officers. The first military Nambu pistol
authorized for Japanese military use appeared about 1904 when the
Imperial Japanese Army issued an official rescript permitting
officers to purchase Nambu pistols as sidearms. These 8mm pistols
are referred to by collectors as "Grandpa" Nambus by virtue of
their age.

Between the years 1905-1914, the Nambu underwent modifications
and improvements. The marking, Shiki Riku, (Army Type) was added to
the left side of the frame on the improved pistol and is found on
all Nambu pistols produced after 1914. This modified pistol is
referred to as the "Papa" Nambu by collectors. Modifications
included an aluminum magazine bottom with circular checkered finger
piece, swivel-mounted lanyard ring, flat-edge trigger, and no stock
slot. Within this period the "second issue" holster was introduced
and continued as "standard issue". This holster is identical to the
first type except for its hard-molded clamshell flap and flapped
cartridge pouch with 16 cartridge loops. The cleaning rod is nickel
plated. It has a 90-degree bend at one end and a screwdriver-edged
patch slot at the other. The Papa Nambu never actually replaced the
Type 26 9mm revolver.

This pistol was never officially adopted as a standard service
arm even though thousands were made and issued to troops. The Type
26 continued as standard until adoption of the Type 14 pistol in
1925. The 8mm Type 14 pistol was a commission-designed
simplification of the Nambu design. The Papa and Type 26 were
issued to non-coms, while officers had to purchase their own
sidearms. The 7mm "Baby" Nambu was specifically designed as a side
arm for officers, its small size more in keeping with the dignity
of rank. The collectors' name of "Baby" obviously refers to size
rather than age since the gun was designed in conjunction with the
"Grandpa" and production began in 1903. The complex Nambu design
made the pistol expensive to produce.

To illustrate this, a 1910 Browning or a 1903 Pocket Model Colt
could be bought at the "gun counter" of the officers' "union" for
100 yen while the "Baby" Nambu cost 180 yen at the same counter.
Many line officers preferred the Type 26 or Papa over the 7mm
"Baby" Nambu and cal. .32 European pistols. However, to many
Japanese officers, the pistol was an insignificant piece of
equipment. The Samurai Code prescribed the sword as the prime
combat weapon.

After World War II, when large stocks of surplus and souvenir
military firearms were available cheaply, Japanese pistols were
probably in least demand of all because American manufacturers did
not produce ammunition for them and the stocks of
Japanese-manufactured military ammunition had been destroyed. It is
only in recent years that the scarcity, unique design features and
historical significance have made the Nambu of great interest to
collectors.